How to Check What the Internet Knows About You

Do you know how much information about you is available on the internet? A lot. Did you realize that any website or app you visit can collect more information about you based on your activity and behavior? Probably not.

Whenever you share something on the internet, you’re giving up some of your personal data, and you don’t always know who’s using it or what they’re doing with it. This isn’t just paranoia; there are companies out there that will collect as much information about you as possible without your consent or knowledge and then sell that information to whoever’s willing to pay.

So what do you do?

When you want to take control of what’s being said about you on the internet, you first need to figure out what has already been posted and how to stop it from showing up in search results.

While there are quite a few different ways to find out what information about you is floating around the web, following this list of 6 methods will help you make sure that only the information you want others to see is available online. All you have to do is read on.

#1: Check Search Engine Results

Most people think of search engines as a place to look for answers, but it’s also an excellent way to see what’s publicly available on you. These days, many tools let you view and delete your information from specific sites, but it’s easier—and often quicker—to use simple searches.

Type in your name on Google search and then add some keywords like Facebook or LinkedIn. If something surprising comes up, take a little time to evaluate if it has value for you.

Not only is it possible that your name is associated with inappropriate content, but it’s also possible that someone is impersonating you and using your name as their own.

Before taking legal action against someone committing identity theft, be sure they are not just impersonating you by accident. And while you’re at it, check out your search results on Bing and Yahoo! as well (not all searches will show up on all search engines).

If you find anything fishy, file a report with your local police department. They can help determine if an investigation is necessary or if something illegal is going on.

#2: Use Databases

If you’re wondering whether someone with a criminal record is impersonating you online or are looking for something in particular that you know is public (like an address or a birth date), you can search using one of several databases.

Some of these databases are connected directly to government sources, while others may collect information through reverse lookups and publicly available social media profiles.

#3: Check Your Online Footprint on Social Media

Social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn offer many opportunities for checking up on what information is available about you. Simply changing your privacy settings on these platforms will tell you exactly what information about you can be seen by others.

But that’s not all; you can also use online tools such as Who Viewed Your Profile, Hint, and Linkedin Spy to check what information is publicly available about you.

It may sound a little creepy initially, but checking up on your online footprint could save some severe headaches down the road. If someone has created an unflattering profile or post about you, it’s best to know sooner rather than later.

#4: Do an Advanced Search on LinkedIn

LinkedIn lets you use advanced search operators (searches with more than one parameter) that will help you narrow your search by location, industry, company size, title, and many other parameters.

LinkedIn’s advanced search feature will allow you to do deeper and broader searches of LinkedIn’s members, which is very helpful when hunting for new job leads or finding potential candidates for a position.

To start using these features on LinkedIn’s advanced search page: click on Advanced People Search in the top right corner; select up to 3 different parameters; perform your search; sort through results. The better and more accurate your input, i.e., which parameters you choose, the better and more detailed your results will be.

#5: Use a Combination of Searches

Google isn’t necessarily comprehensive and doesn’t always pick up on every mention of your name. For example, a local TV station might include a segment about you that doesn’t appear on Google.

So, to check a broader range of sources, use multiple search tools and various keywords. An online people search tool can provide even more information than Google alone. The results are imperfect and should be used cautiously, but they often paint an exciting picture of your digital footprint.

If you find anything that seems incorrect, inaccurate, or out-of-date, you may want to contact those sites directly for corrections or to even opt out.

Remeber that people search sites collect all the information legally from publicly available resources. Start with Nuwber, look up your name and see what comes up.

#6: Run a Background Search on Yourself

There’s no such thing as too much information regarding personal security. That’s why it pays to regularly monitor what information about you is out there and how that info can be used.

Credit reporting bureaus store vast amounts of data on individuals—everything from your address history and phone number changes to details on medical debt or mortgage applications.

The main reason you would run a background search on yourself is if your identity was stolen and someone opened up accounts in your name. If you believe that has happened or are simply looking for some peace of mind, running a background search could help. That will also show if there’s some irrelevant or unflattering information attached to your name.

Final Thoughts

In today’s social media-driven world, you must be aware of what people say about you online, both your friends and enemies. So, when trying to keep your personal information private, it’s good to know how to check what the internet knows about you. Keeping tabs on your reputation online is difficult, but there are many ways to do it.

While it’s impossible to know everything about you that’s said on the Internet, the 6 ways to check what the Internet knows we’ve talked about in this guide will help you ensure that at least some of the information out there matches reality.

It’s about time you learned how to check what the internet knows about you and delete your personal information from sites where it’s no longer needed or wanted.